Imagery of war
The warfare imagery comes through in the novel's treatments of guns, gun violence, WWI and WWII, and the drastic pains of PTSD and shell shock. The novel's treatment of war is so thorough in its imagery that when Trond goes hunting for food, the reader might think about his father at war for his own survival, battling against Nazis.
Imagery of Norwegian paradise
The horrible loneliness and frustration of a tragic human life is set against this contrasting imagery. Norway is so undeniably beautiful that to fish and hunt in the Norwegian wilderness was truly heaven for young Trond. The heavenly, paradise imagery of Norway is well noted by many, many (if not the vast majority of) Norwegian writers. These scenes are profound observations of the earth's striking beauty.
Imagery of relationships
We see several images that seem to form a motif about relationships. We see Trond and Lars silently sharing a meal in an effort to forgive each other for Trond's accidental murder of Lars's brother during childhood (when they were playing with guns). In flash backs, we see Trond learning his wife has died. We also see memories of him riding horses with his father, or walking with his mother arm in arm.
Imagery of seasons
Seasonal imagery is a strong device in this novel, like snow during the winter, which in Norway means something pretty specific—it is a literal reminder of death, because in Northern Europe, getting caught in a snow storm is a fatal mistake. Also, there is imagery of life in full bloom, in the summer. We see this imagery as a subtle reminder that this person and his point of view are also seasonal. Trond is in the "winter" of his days on earth.
